Double channel plastic package



April 3, 1962 J. cLEMNTs ETAI.` 3,028,000

DOUBLE CHANNEL PLASTIC PACKAGE Filed Aug. '7, 1959l "E g NVENTORS a/65 Mew @4 ini United rates This invention relates to packages and more particularly to a composite package for two or more different substances which are maintained separate until the time of usage when they may be intermixed.

There are various instances where a medicament or other ingredient is mixed with a second ingredient which may be a carrier. However, very often the medicament should be maintained separate from the carrier until the time of actual usage as otherwise the medicament may lose its efficacy.

Purely as an example, let us assume that vitamin A is to be incorporated in a cosmetic cream. It has been found that should the two be mixed together, the vitamin A ingredient will gradually lose its potency. Accordingly, it is considered desirable to admix the two only at the time of usage whereupon the mixture will be a fresh one with full potency.

With the foregoing in mind, we have devised a simple, composite package which can effect the foregoing purpose. The composite package is of essentially one-piece form. It is fabricated of plastic material and is divided into integral, parallel tubes or channels for housing the separate materials or ingredients. At the time of usage, the user may cause the two ingredients to be mixed by simply kneading the package whereby the ingredients from the two tubes intermix. We have further devised a special form of interconnection of the two channels for effecting this result.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a strip of plastic tubing showing the initial formation thereof into two continuous channels and the filling of each channel with its liquid or creamy substance;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View as taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view illustrating the Afilled tubing being formed into a number of continuously connected individual packages each having an integral dispensing nozzle;

i* FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an individual completed package;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the admixture of the respective ingredients;

FIGURE 7 shows the dispensing of the mixed ingredients;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the die or sealing rod which produces the channels illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE l0 is an end view of the die of FIGURE 9.

{eferring now to FIGURE l, 10 is a tube formed of film plastic material such as polyvinylidene chloride or such as Saran Of course, other plastics may be used.

In forming the continuous line or succession of packages of the instant invention, we first divide the tube 10 into two elongated sections or channels 11 and 12. It will be observed that channel 12 is considerably narrower than channel 11, it being intended that the vitamin A substance or other ingredient be injected into channel 12 atent 'G while the relatively bulkier carrier is injected into channel 11.

Line 13 which produces the two channels is of special formation for purposes which will hereinafter appear. Line 13 takes the form of a linear fused section through both opposing walls and along the complete length of the tube. The fusion may be produced by conventional heat sealing or high frequency means as will be evident to those skilled in the art. However, line 13 is not uniform along its length since it has relatively and intermittently disposed weaker spots 13a, the stronger fused spots being designated 13b.

As an example of material which is used for tube 10, the above mentioned thermo-plastic material of a thickness of about .004-.015 is usable. As is well understood, the linear die which forms line 13 may be heated either by ohmic current or by high frequency apparatus.

We provide weaker fused spots sections in line 13 in order to form passageways when the liquid in channel 11 is forced therethrough into channel 12 and vice versa. Accordingly, normally the line 13 forms a complete division between channels 11 and 12. However, the line of fusion is designed to rupture along substantially predeterminedsections upon sufficient pressure from the contained liquids as will be hereinafter described.

The die for producing line 0f fusion 13 is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. Die 14 is a bar connected to structure 15 which is the movable jaw of a sealing machine such as of the heat sealing type. As is well known, heat for the sealing of such plastics is transmitted to bar 14 which is then pressed against the plastic so as to partly liquefy and fuse its walls together.

In order to produce the relatively weakened fusion sections, `we secure metallic pieces 16 spacedly along bar 14. Such pieces 16 may be welded or otherwise secured to the bar 14 but they are somewhat elevated in respect to the sealing edge 17 in order to avoid interference with the sealing function.

The function of metal pieces 16 is to dissipate some of the heat which is in the immediate area of the pieces 16. In other words, the edge 17 will have alternate areas of higher and lower degrees of heat. For example, the length of metal pieces 16 may be about W16, the spaces between them being likewise 3/16". Pieces 16 may be about as thick as the bar 14 and may be formed of steel or may be of the same electrical resistance material as is bar 14. The entire bar 14 will produce fusion but the heat at the portions 18 will be greater than that at p0rtions 19 which, being diminished, will produce lesser or weaker fusion. Accordingly, there will be formed alternately strong and weak spots of fusion along line 13.

Referring now to FIGURE l, tube 10 is now filled with the desired substances, the nozzle 20 injecting the carrier into channel 11 while the nozzle 21 injects the medicament into channel 12. This is continued until the channels are filled to the desired extent, the excess substance emerging from the remote end of tube 10.

The filled tube 1t! is now formed into a connected series of pillow-like packages or envelopes as illustrated in FIG- URE 3. As will be well understood, this is produced by a sealing die which bears down upon the filled tube 10 and forms the pillow-like package 22 with the integral head 23. The die also forms the sealed marginal portions 24 and 25. If desired, at the same time as the marginal portions 24 and 25 are formed the packages may be cut away by cutting elements on the die or may be scored by the die to produce a tearing edge such as described in United States Patent No. 2,631,646. The result is a number of individual packages 22 such as shown in FIGURE 5. As an example, the package 22 may be about 11/2 X 1".

When the contents are ready to be used, the user will 3 manually squeeze the sections or channels 11 and 12 and it will be observed that the weakened areas 13a will rupture or unfuse by virtue of the force of the squeezed liquid so as to form predetermined passageways. The two substances can then be interrnixed into a morel or less horno-' geneous mixture. Preferably, the two substances will be of two different colors so that the user will see that a satisfactory mixture has been accomplished.

It will be understood that the sealed marginal portions or edges 24 and 25 are fused so as to be of a strength at least equal to the stronger fused spots 13b. This is, of course, to avoid rupturing said marginal portions dur-l ing said manually mixing of the two substances.

In dispensing the mixed substance the user may simply tear olf the head 23 to form a dispensing outlet. If de# sired, the portion of the rim 24 at the base of head 23 may be scored at 26 as conventional in order to facilitate tearing. The mixed substance may then be dispensed by squeezing the pillow-like Package,

There has been Shown what is now considered a preferred embodiment of the invent-ion but it is obvious that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is;

l. A package fabricated of a flexible plastic and comprising opposing walls formed into two completely closed, hollow sections each containing a different liquid material, a continuously fused separation line dening and separating said two sections, said fused line having both stronger and weaker aligned fused spots of substantially equal length whereby manual pressure exerted upon either of said sections will rupture said weaker fused spots so as to force material from one of said sections into the other section.

` 2. A package fabricated of a flexible plastic material and comprising opposing walls formed into two completely closed, hollow chambers lying side by side and each containing a different liquid material, a continuously fused separation line defining and separating said two chambers, said fused line having both stronger and weaker aligned fused spots along the length of each chamber whereby manual pressure exerted upon either of said chambers will rupture said weaker fused spots so as to force material from one of said chambers into the other chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,896 Rohdin Aug. 5, 1952 2,750,075 Land June 12, 1956 2,771,724 Hosier et al Nov. 27, 1956 2,866,542 Svirehev Dec. 30, 1958 2,916,886 Robbins Dec. 15, 1959 

